Residents in Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin Counties have been alerted to the possibility of evacuations if the fire continues to grow.

Once the fire has been put out, residents will be moved back in stages, as officials need to be sure there is no further fire danger as well as bringing utilities back online.

Thus far, the fire has burned 5,263 acres on private land as well as state and federal lands. The areas between Basalt and El Jebel as well as the hillsides over them are where the fire is centered and three homes have been destroyed so far, one owned by one of the firefighters.